Skip to content
Past-India Logo Past-India Logo Past-India Logo
About Past-India
  • Home
  • Art & Raja Ravi Varma Collection
  • Old India Photos
    • Bangalore Photos
    • Bombay Photos
    • Calcutta Photos
    • Delhi Photos
    • Madras Photos
    • Miscellaneous Photos
    • Other India photos
  • Old India Postcards
    • Bombay Postcards
    • Madras Postcards
    • Calcutta Postcards
    • Banglore Postcards
    • Cochin / Kerala Postcards
    • Other India Postcards
    • Miscellaneous Postcards
  • Old India Prints
    • Bombay Prints
    • Other India Prints
    • Miscellaneous Prints
  • More
    • India Railway
    • Vintage Motoring
    • Maps & Plans
    • Books & Publications
Homedevmaster2024-04-27T10:47:08+05:30
Previous12···3738394041···125126Next
devmaster2025-08-29T22:23:46+05:30
First Line Beach, Commercial Street of Madras 1940 
First Line Beach, The Commercial Street of Madras, 1940 Photo
Gallery

First Line Beach, The Commercial Street of Madras, 1940 Photo

First Line Beach, The Commercial Street of Madras, 1940 Photo

First Line Beach, The Commercial Street of Madras, 1940 Photo This rare 1940 photograph is of the First Line Beach in ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2025-08-30T07:36:58+05:30
Ernakulam High Court Boat Jetty, 1935 Photo
Rare View of Ernakulam High Court Boat Jetty, 1930 Photo
Gallery

Rare View of Ernakulam High Court Boat Jetty, 1930 Photo

Rare View of Ernakulam High Court Boat Jetty, 1930 Photo

Rare View of Ernakulam High Court Boat Jetty, 1930 Photo This rare 1930 photograph of the High Court Boat Jetty ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2025-08-31T10:06:44+05:30
Parsis Worshipping & BB & CI Bombay, 1903 Photo
BB&CI Office & Parsi Worship At Back Bay In Bombay, 1903 Photo
Gallery

BB&CI Office & Parsi Worship At Back Bay In Bombay, 1903 Photo

BB&CI Office & Parsi Worship At Back Bay In Bombay, 1903 Photo

BB&CI Office & Parsi Worship At Back Bay In Bombay, 1903 Photo This rare 1903 stereo photograph captures Parsis worshipping ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2023-09-13T04:09:19+05:30
Queen Victoria Memorial Project Allahabad, 1902 Print 
Queen Victoria Memorial Project Allahabad, 1902 Print 
Gallery

Queen Victoria Memorial Project Allahabad, 1902 Print 

Queen Victoria Memorial Project Allahabad, 1902 Print 

Queen Victoria Memorial Project Allahabad, 1902 Print This is a 1902 newspaper cutting of a memorial project for Queen Victoria ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2024-06-09T06:09:37+05:30
Views of Victoria Terminus British Era Bombay - 10 Postcards
Views of Victoria Terminus British Era Bombay – 10 Postcards
Gallery

Views of Victoria Terminus British Era Bombay – 10 Postcards

Views of Victoria Terminus British Era Bombay – 10 Postcards

Views of Victoria Terminus British Era Bombay - 10 Postcards Ten postcard views from 1900 to 1920 of Victoria Terminus ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2024-02-14T06:09:11+05:30
Fishing Boats At Chowpatty Bombay, 1900 Postcard
Fishing Boats At Chowpatty Bombay, 1900 Postcard
Gallery

Fishing Boats At Chowpatty Bombay, 1900 Postcard

Fishing Boats At Chowpatty Bombay, 1900 Postcard

Fishing Boats At Chowpatty Bombay, 1900 Postcard Old 1900 photo postcard of Chowpatty and boats in Bombay, now Mumbai. The ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2025-09-01T06:35:04+05:30
Durbar Hall In Ernakulam (Kochi), 1935 Photo
Maharaja’s Durbar Hall In Ernakulam (Kochi), 1935 Photo
Gallery

Maharaja’s Durbar Hall In Ernakulam (Kochi), 1935 Photo

Maharaja’s Durbar Hall In Ernakulam (Kochi), 1935 Photo

Maharaja's Durbar Hall In Ernakulam (Kochi), 1935 Photo This rare 1935 photo captures the historic Durbar Hall and its grounds ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2023-04-29T07:28:25+05:30
Old Newspapers 1866, The Illustrated London News
Old Newspapers 1866, The Illustrated London News
Gallery

Old Newspapers 1866, The Illustrated London News

Old Newspapers 1866, The Illustrated London News

Old Newspapers 1866, The Illustrated London News Title - The Illustrated London News (19th-century newspapers) Year - 1866, issues from ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2024-02-14T06:12:24+05:30
Trams On Esplanade Road British Era Madras, 1945 Postcard
Trams On Esplanade Road British Era Madras, 1945 Postcard
Gallery

Trams On Esplanade Road British Era Madras, 1945 Postcard

Trams On Esplanade Road British Era Madras, 1945 Postcard

Trams On Esplanade Road British Era Madras, 1945 Postcard A beautiful 1945 postcard view of the Trams on Esplanade Road ....read more

Learn More
devmaster2025-09-02T17:59:02+05:30
Boat Mail Train Over New Pamban Bridge, 1914 Photo
New Pamban Railway Lift Bridge & Boat Mail Train, 2 Photos 1914
Gallery

New Pamban Railway Lift Bridge & Boat Mail Train, 2 Photos 1914

New Pamban Railway Lift Bridge & Boat Mail Train, 2 Photos 1914

The New Pamban Railway Lift Bridge & Boat Mail Train, 2 Photos 1914 Two rare photographs from 1914 capture the ....read more

Learn More
Previous12···3738394041···125126Next

The First Oleograph Published From Raja Ravi Varma Press 1894

Past-India.com

PRESERVING INDIA’S AMAZING PAST

Welcome to Past-India.com, a unique archive that brings India’s history to life through an extraordinary collection of antique and vintage treasures. This curated selection includes Raja Ravi Varma oleographs, vintage art, old photographs, old postcards, historic prints, vintage maps, plans, and books, all connected to the rich heritage of India.

A Journey Through India’s History

Our collection offers a vivid glimpse into what India looked like in the past and how it evolved through the centuries. Few maybe knowing that trams once operated in Bombay (Mumbai), Madras (Chennai), Delhi, and Calcutta (Kolkata). Public transportation in India began with horse-drawn trams, later replaced by electric trams in the early 1900s. Madras was the first city in India to introduce the electric tram. Among our rarest pieces is an 1880 Calcutta Tramways proposed route map for horse-drawn trams.

Rare Historical Treasures

From wartime secrets to technological milestones, our collection spans diverse chapters of Indian history:

  • Taj Mahal Camouflage – During World War II, the Taj Mahal was camouflaged to protect it from possible German and Japanese air attacks.

  • Maritime History – Includes a glass slide of the first steam paddle ship “Enterprise” that sailed from England to India in 1825.

  • Bombay’s Transformation – An 1880 photograph reveals a barren Haji Ali landscape with a semi-forested Worli in the distance.

  • Historic Newspapers – A 1791 London newspaper reporting on the 3rd Anglo-Mysore War and a 1792 edition announcing Tipu Sultan’s defeat.

  • Early Aviation in India – Rare photographs and prints from 1913 to the 1940s.

  • Railway Heritage – A photograph of the first train journey from Bombay to Thana.

The Crown Jewel – Raja Ravi Varma’s First Oleograph

The pride of our archive is Raja Ravi Varma’s “Birth of Shakuntala” (1894), the very first oleograph produced at the Raja Ravi Varma Fine Arts Lithograph Press. This masterpiece holds the distinction of being the first oleograph ever printed in India.

Experience History Firsthand

As the saying goes, seeing is believing. We invite you to explore our collection, immerse yourself in India’s remarkable past. The scans displayed are from our collection only.

📩 Contact us: info@past-india.com | bitp.in@gmail.com

Popular & Rare

php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php
php

Past India

You can scroll down from the home page or go to the main categories shown on the top yellow band with drop downs of sub-categories (the "Art & Raja Ravi Varma Collection" does not have sub-category). Check out each category and subcategory for an interesting collection of art, photos, postcards, prints, maps, books, etc. These depict varied subjects of an amazing Past India that we may have forgotten; from people on the streets to spectacular events like Delhi durbars to farewell ceremony at Apollo Bunder, from Taj Mahal to Gateway of India, from residential to commercial areas, from exterior to interior of homes, glimpses of British and Indians daily life, India's early aviation from 1911 to 1940s, and so on. This site also includes a photo of "Charlie Chaplin" with his autographed sign on the back. Check also Raja Ravi Varma’s portrait photo, oleographs. Ravi Varma's wife's photo, etc. Additionally there are photos, postcards, prints on the Indian railway, vintage motor cars, old maps of India, old books, etc. Just like the saying goes "A picture is worth a thousand words" likewise the case with this site. The scans displayed are only from our personal collection and not from any other source unless otherwise specified.

Contact us:

info@past-india.com
DMCA.com Protection Status
© Copyright | Past-India by Nubes Technologies | All Rights Reserved
Facebook